Blueberry plant named ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’, particularly selected for the large size, sweet flavor, and heavy bloom layer of its fruit, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Vaccinium corymbosum L.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof blueberry plant is ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blueberry plants are perennial flowering plants with indigo-coloredberries from the section Cyanococcus within the genus Vaccinium. Manycommercially sold species with English common names, includingblueberry, are currently classified in section Cyanococcus of the genusVaccinium and come predominantly from North America. Many North Americannative species of blueberries are grown commercially in the SouthernHemisphere in Australia, New Zealand, and South American nations.

Vaccinium corymbosum, the northern highbush blueberry, is a NorthAmerican species of blueberry which has become a food crop ofsignificant economic importance. It is native to eastern Canada and theeastern and southern United States, from Ontario east to Nova Scotia andsouth as far as Florida and eastern Texas. It has been naturalized inEurope, Japan, New Zealand, and the Pacific Northwest of North America.Other common names include blue huckleberry, tall huckleberry, swamphuckleberry, high blueberry, and swamp blueberry.

Blueberries are usually erect, prostrate shrubs that can vary in sizefrom approximately four inches to approximately 13 feet in height. Inthe commercial production of blueberries, the smaller species are knownas “lowbush blueberries”, while the larger species are known as“highbush blueberries”.

Blueberry bushes typically bear fruit in the middle of the growingseason. However, fruiting times can be affected by local conditions suchas altitude and latitude. As such, peak crop can vary from May to Augustin the northern hemisphere, depending upon these conditions.

Blueberries are a popular fruit that is typically consumed as freshfruit, individually quick frozen (IQF) fruit, or in prepared foods, suchas purées, juices, jellies, jams, baked goods, snack foods, and cereals.

Blueberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, there isa need for new varieties of blueberry plant. In particular, there is aneed for improved varieties of blueberry plant that are stable, highyielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of blueberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of blueberry plant (Vacciniumcorymbosum L.), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

Blueberry plant variety ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ was selected in Santa CruzCounty, Calif. in September of 2013 and originated from a controlledcross between the female parent blueberry plant ‘DrisBlueTwentyFour’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,067) and the proprietary male parent blueberryplant ‘52E 3’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new variety wasfirst asexually propagated via softwood cuttings and tissue culture inSanta Cruz County, Calif. in September of 2013.

‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ was subsequently asexually propagated via softwoodcuttings and tissue culture and underwent further testing in LinnCounty, Oreg. for two years (2019 to 2021). The present blueberryvariety has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type throughsuccessive asexual propagations via softwood cuttings and tissueculture.

‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ was selected for the large size, sweet flavor, andheavy bloom layer of its fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blueberry plant variety is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plantsthat are five years old, unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates longitudinal sections (top row) and whole fruit(bottom row; calyx side up on left, pedicel side up on right) of variety‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’. The second and fourth fruit of the bottom rowhave bloom on them, whereas the first and third fruit of the bottom rowhave bloom removed.

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a cane of variety ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

FIG. 3 illustrates another view of a section of a cane of variety‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

FIG. 4 illustrates another view of a section of a cane of variety‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

FIG. 5 illustrates clusters of flowers of variety ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

FIG. 6 illustrates the lower surface (left) and upper surface (right) ofleaves of variety ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

FIG. 7 illustrates another view of the lower surface (left) and uppersurface (right) of leaves of variety ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’. The data which define these characteristics isbased on observations taken in Linn County, Oreg. from 2019 to 2021.This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Colordesignations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptionsmay deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending uponvariation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. Unless noted otherwise, the botanicaldescription of ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ was taken from plants that werefive years old. The indicated values represent averages calculated frommeasurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the PlantIdentification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition byJames G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwisedefined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.        -   Botanical.—Vaccinium corymbosum L.        -   Common name.—Blueberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘DrisBlueTwentyFour’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            34,067).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary blueberry plant ‘52E 3’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—133.22 cm.        -   Width.—151.38 cm.        -   Length width ratio.—0.9.        -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Cane renewal.—Weak.        -   Chilling requirements.—‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ is a mid-chill            variety and has been grown in regions with chill hour            accumulation between 500 to 1000 hours below 7° C., as well            as producing high yield when grown in areas with at least            500 chill hours below 7° C. Early bloom may occur in areas            where the chill requirement is met before the last potential            freeze.        -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Mid- to late February.        -   One-year-old shoot (young canes).—Length: 22.80 cm. Diameter            at the base: 3.66 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2.04 mm.            Internode length on the upper half: 20.76 mm. Color: RHS            151A (Strong greenish yellow). Texture: Smooth.        -   Five-year-old shoot (mature canes).—Length: 72.77 cm.            Diameter at the base: 29.02 mm. Diameter at the tip:            10.56 mm. Internode length on the upper half: 64.49 mm.            Color: RHS 199D (Dark greyish yellow). Texture: Rough.-   Leaves:    -   -   Length.—6.80 cm.        -   Width.—3.88 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.8.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Venation.—Reticulate.        -   Vein color.—RHS 154D (Light yellow green).        -   Color on upper side.—RHS 146A (Moderate olive green).        -   Color on lower side.—RHS 147C (Moderate yellow green).        -   Glaucosity on upper side.—Medium.        -   Trichomes on upper side.—Glabrous (absent).        -   Glossiness.—Glossy.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3.92 mm. Diameter: 1.95 mm. Color: RHS            N144D (Strong yellow green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower length (excluding pedicel).—11.00 mm.        -   Flower width.—6.54 mm.        -   Flower length/width ratio.—1.7.        -   Fragrance.—Faint.        -   Inflorescence peduncle.—Length: 14.48 mm. Diameter: 1.39 mm.            Color: RHS N57B (Vivid purplish red).        -   Flower bud.—Length of dormant bud: 5.46 mm. Width of dormant            bud: 2.52 mm. Number of flowers per bud: 7.30. Anthocyanin            coloration at bud break: Medium. Anthocyanin color: RHS 67D            (Strong purplish pink).        -   Flower pedicel.—Length: 5.65 mm. Diameter: 1.03 mm. Color:            RHS 143C (Strong yellow green).        -   Corolla.—Shape: Globose. Color of corolla tube at open            flower stage: RHS 4D (Pale yellow green). Anthocyanin            coloration of corolla tube on outer side (late pink bud            stage): Weak. Anthocyanin color: RHS 69A (Very pale purple).            Conspicuousness of ridges on corolla tube: Medium. Color of            receptacle: RHS 143A (Strong yellow green). Diameter of            corolla aperture: 3.51 mm. Petal: Petal width (ridge to            ridge): 2.11 mm. Sepal: Length: 3.41 mm. Width: 3.26 mm.            Color: RHS 124B (Light bluish green).        -   Reproductive organs.—Style: Length (including stigma):            8.96 mm. Color: RHS 144C (Strong yellow green). Ovary:            Color: RHS 146A (Moderate olive green). Stamen: Length:            6.46 mm. Color: RHS 26A (Strong orange). Pollen: Amount:            High. Pollen color: RHS 4D (Pale yellow green).        -   Flowering interval on one-year-old shoot.—Late March through            mid-May.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length.—14.88 mm.        -   Width.—19.67 mm.        -   Length/width ratio.—0.8.        -   Weight.—2.40 grams/fruit.        -   Shape in longitudinal section.—Oblate.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Incurved.        -   Calyx basin.—Diameter: 6.93 mm. Depth: 2.13 mm.            Diameter/depth ratio: 3.3.        -   Infructescence (fruit cluster).—Number of berries per            cluster: 7.00. Density: Medium. Peduncle length: 19.27 mm.            Peduncle diameter: 1.81 mm.        -   Fruit pedicel.—Length: 8.20 mm. Diameter: 1.23 mm.        -   Color of unripe fruit.—RHS 192C (Very pale green).        -   Intensity of bloom.—Strong.        -   Color of skin with bloom on mature fruit.—RHS 106D (Very            pale purplish blue).        -   Color of skin after removal of bloom on mature fruit.—RHS            N186A (Dark purplish grey).        -   Flesh color.—RHS 145D (Light yellow green).        -   Fruit firmness.—Firm.        -   Sweetness/soluble solids (in ° brix).—16.50.        -   Titratable acidity (% as citric acid).—0.49%.        -   Seed.—Diameter: 0.91 mm. Color: RHS 164A (Brownish orange).            Abundance: High.        -   Fruiting.—Fruiting type: On one-year-old shoots only.            Harvest interval on one-year-old shoot: Mid-July through            mid-August. Yield: 3.5 kg to 4.5 kg of fruit per plant per            season from 50-month old plants when grown at Linn County,            Oreg.-   Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:    -   -   Heat.—Moderately susceptible.        -   Botrytis fruit rot (botrytis cinerea).—Susceptible.        -   Blueberry shock virus.—Highly susceptible.        -   Pseudomonas (pseudomonas syringae): Moderately resistant.        -   Phomopsis (phomopsis vaccinii): Highly susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND REFERENCE BLUEBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ differs from the female parent and referencevariety ‘DrisBlueTwentyFour’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,067) in that‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ has firm fruit, early time of beginning ofvegetative growth, medium infructescence density, and strong intensityof bloom on fruit, whereas ‘DrisBlueTwentyFour’ has medium firm fruit,medium time of beginning of vegetative growth, sparse infructescencedensity, and medium intensity of bloom on fruit.

‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ differs from the male parent proprietary blueberryplant ‘52E 3’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ has earlierproduction, higher yield potential, and larger fruit size compared to‘52E 3’.

‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ differs from the reference blueberry plant variety‘DrisBlueEighteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,649) in that‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ has early time of beginning of vegetative growth,elliptic leaf shape, medium flower bud anthocyanin coloration, andglobose shape of corolla, whereas ‘DrisBlueEighteen’ has medium time ofbeginning of vegetative growth, lanceolate leaf shape, strong flower budanthocyanin coloration, and urceolate shape of corolla.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plantdesignated ‘DrisBlueTwentyEight’ as shown and described herein.